&#34;h&#34; Channel Member For Use In Siding Renovations

ABSTRACT

An improved J channel is provided for use when renovating or otherwise altering existing siding clad buildings, being designed with a profile resembling “h” so as to allow simplified installation and reduced labor by allowing for installation without the removal of siding panels beyond the area of the alteration.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application number 62/974,226 filed on Nov. 20, 2019, on behalf of James Alan Finley, of Dover Plains, N.Y.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a trim accessory for use with panel siding, and specifically an improved J channel for use when performing renovations or alterations to an existing sided building surface.

Vinyl and metal panel siding which have proven to be popular and durable choices for exterior cladding on both residential and light commercial construction, will continue to be installed to serve their function where already installed well into the foreseeable future. These panels are retained at their edges, especially such edges as abut penetrations through the building surface, by a J channel, such as typified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,288B1, as patented on behalf of Todd Harbin.

J channels are durable, attractive, and easily installed in cases of new construction, being universally applied before the siding panels, the cut ends of which are housed within the recess formed by the J channel. This serves both to allow the required thermal expansion space for the siding panels and to cover the fasteners used to apply the J channel to the building surface.

The fasteners' concealment beneath the sided surface is the downside of the existing design. In order to add a piece of J channel to an already clad surface, one must first remove the siding. Given the overlapping nature of the siding panels, as well as their typical length of twelve or more feet, a large quantity of siding may need to be removed in order to facilitate the installation of such relatively small and common items as electrical receptacles or handrails.

To such an end, various tools have been designed to remove interlocked vinyl or metal siding panels-for example U.S. Pat. No. 10,221,577B1, patented on behalf of Luke M. Westcott-but this type of siding removal tool still requires a significant investment of time and labor, often requires the use of specialized and expensive scaffolding, and increases the chances that the siding will be damaged or mismatched during the process.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, which is proposed as a way to simplify these ever-more-common alterations to exterior building surfaces, consisting of an improved J channel, wherein the provided nailing flange runs perpendicular to a recess designed to house the siding panel, but in such a way as to put the nailing flange under the trimmed surface, rather than under the sided surface. This can be visualized as having a profile similar to “h,” as opposed to the prior art's profile of “J.”

This improvement on the prior art allows for this “h” channel to be installed by simply cutting the siding in situ, then sliding the channel into place and fastening via the exposed nailing flange, which may then be covered by a trim member having a recess provided in order to allow for the thermal expansion and contraction inherent to the material from whence the “h” channel is manufactured. This significantly reduces the labor and time required for installation, and nearly eliminates the chances of damaging the existing siding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Sheet 1, FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the invention.

Sheet 1, FIG. 2 is a side view of the invention.

Sheet 1, FIG. 3 is a top view of the invention.

Sheet 1, FIG. 4 is an isometric projection of the invention.

Sheet 2, FIG. 5 is a cross section demonstrating prior art, wherein the fasteners are concealed by the siding panel. (The siding being represented by the shaded portion.)

Sheet 2, FIG. 6 is a cross section demonstrating the present invention, wherein the fasteners are outside the surface covered by the siding. (The siding being represented by the shaded portion.)

Sheet 2, FIG. 7 is a top view demonstrating prior art, wherein the fasteners are concealed by the siding panel. (The siding being represented by the shaded portion.)

Sheet 2, FIG. 8 is a top view demonstrating the present invention, wherein the fasteners are outside the surface covered by the siding. (The siding being represented by the shaded portion.)

Sheet 3, FIG. 9 is a cross section of the present invention, illustrated as installed, with the siding panel represented by the shaded portion, and the trim, with recess provided to allow for thermal expansion and contraction of the “h” channel, represented by the equiangular polygon opposite from the siding panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referencing drawing sheet 1, FIG. 1, the present invention consists of an outer face 01, separated from inner face 02 so as to form recess 03 for siding panels, with bridge 04 perpendicular to faces 01 and 02 forming the bottom of recess 03. As illustrated, lip 05 is connected to outer face 01 by a curve at 06, though alternative designs may be used for this lip, so as to match existing J channels, as would be expected for an invention intended for renovation applications. This, so far, is all as per prior art J channels.

The improvement is in the location of nailing flange 07, being parallel to lower face 02, but separated by bridge 04, and provided with slots along its length to accept fasteners. Thus constructed, the present invention may be more efficiently utilized in renovation or alteration work, as this improvement allows for the fasteners to be installed without removing such siding panels as will be housed within recess 03.

Given that this invention is intended to match existing siding trim accessories, it may be formed, extruded, machined or otherwise manufactured in a wide variety of sizes, colors and materials, and may deviate from the illustrations herein provided in such ways as may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, in order to better match existing products or to simplify manufacture. These deviations, insofar as they do not change the scope of the invention, are intended to be within the scope of the claim, and the above description should not be interpreted as limiting said claim. 

1. A siding trim element having a side profile resembling the letter “h,” comprised of an inner and an outer face separated by some distance by a bridging member perpendicular to those faces in such a manner as to form a recess sized to accept siding panels and a nailing flange co planar with, and opposite the connecting bridge of, the inner face.
 2. The siding trim element of claim 1 wherein the siding trim is constructed from aluminum, vinyl, steel or plastic covered metal.
 3. The siding trim element of claim 1 wherein the nailing flange component of the siding trim element is opposite the recess formed by the separation of the inner and outer faces, in such a fashion that the nailing flange is positioned outside the surface covered by the siding panels.
 4. A method of installing a siding trim element after the installation of the siding panels, the siding trim element consisting of: a side profile resembling the letter “h,” comprised of an inner and an outer face separated by some distance by a bridging member perpendicular to those faces in such a manner as to form a recess sized to accept siding panels and a nailing flange co planar with, and opposite the connecting bridge of, the inner face.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the siding trim element is constructed from aluminum, vinyl, steel or plastic covered metal.
 6. The method of claim 4 wherein the nailing flange component of the siding trim element is opposite the recess formed by the separation of the inner and outer faces, in such a fashion that the nailing flange is positioned outside the surface covered by the siding panels. 